Rein-operating device



No. 624,579. Patented May 9, I899.

T. TODMEY.

REIN OPERATING DEVICE.

(Application filed Oct. 81, 1898.)

(No Model.)

,- p- TNE SELS W d JINVENTOR THE Nana's PETERS co. FHOTO-L|THO., WASHINGTON. a. c.

I NITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS TOOMEY, OF SCRANTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

REIN-O P ERATIN G DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent NO. 624,579, dated May 9, 1899.

Application filed October 31,1898- Serial No; 695,060. (No modelil spirited horses; and it consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a view in side elevation'of a portion of a vehicle having my improvement attached to the shafts thereof. Fig. 2 is a View in front elevation .of a vehicle, showing my improvement applied to the shafts thereof. Fig. 3 is a detached view in side elevation of the segment-rack and operating-lever. Fig. 4 is a similar view in end elevation, and Fig. 5 is a detached view of the rein attachment.

A represents a vehicle, and 1 the shafts thereof, to which latter are secured the ends of an arch-shaped brace or support 2. This brace or support may be of metal, in which event the ends thereof can be bent to form clips 3, each adapted to receive a pole of the shafts and be locked thereto by the clampingbolts 4 and nuts 5. If the arch-shaped brace or support be of wood, metal clips are secured to the ends of the brace or support, the clips in either case-being preferably constructed as shown.

Secured centrally on the brace or support 2 isa pair of segment-racks 6 6, between which a lever 7 is mounted, the said lever having its axis on a bolt or shaft 8, supported by the segment racks near the lower ends of the latter. Between the segment-racks are placed spacing-collars 9 9, through which pass the bolts 10 10, by means of which a space sufficient for the free forward and backward movement of lever 7 is maintained. These spacing-collars also perform the function of limitof lever 4.

At a suitable point near the upper end of lever 7 is pivotally connected a finger-bar 11, carrying the upper end of a pitman 12, the lower end of said pitman beingpivotally connected to a dog or latch 13, which latter is supported in its operative position and prevented from lateral displacement by a loop 141, carried by lever 7.

The rein-support 15 consists of a plate provided with a bifurcated end 16 for embracing the lever 7, to which latter it is pivotally connected by means of a bolt or rivet, while its opposite end is widened and provided with two short diverging straps, each carrying a buckle 17 or other suitable fastening device at its outer end. The reins 18 are of a length sufficient to enable the driver to handle the horse from the vehicle-seat in the usual manner, the point of attachment between said reins and the buckles being at a suitable point between the head of the horse and the driver, or, in other words, a sufficient distance in advance of the forward position of lever 7 as to allow of free manipulation of the reins by the driver, sufficient slack being present to permit of the free movement of the horses head.

The device above described is ready for instant use when in the position shown in Fig. t 1, and in the event the horse being driven becomes unmanageable the driver can instantly by means'of lever 7 tighten up the reinsand hold them taut as long as may be necessary. The pull on lever 7 acts instantly on the bit in the horses mouth and positively pulls him off his front feet, thus bringing him to a stop. After the horse has been quieted the lever can be returned to its normal position by releasing the dog 13 and pushing lever 7 forwardly. To pull the lever rearwardly or in a direction to check the horse, it is not necessary to grasp finger-bar 11, as the dog operated thereby is provided with a beveled rear face which rides over the rearwardlyinclined teeth of the segment-racks when said lever is pulled in the direct-ion stated above. Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a rein-operating device, the combina- IOC tion with a brace attached to the pole or shafts of a vehicle, and a toothed segment mounted on said brace, of a lever pivotally connected to the segment and means for attaching the reins to the lever, substantially as set forth.

.2. In a rein-operating device, the combination with a brace or support secured at its ends to a pole or shaft, and a pair of toothed segments mounted on said brace or support, of a lever mounted between said segments and having a dog for engaging the teeth on the segments and means for attaching the reins to the lever, substantially as set forth.

3. In a rein-operating device, the combination with an arch-shaped brace or support adapted to be attached to the thills of a pole or shafts, and a pair of toothed segments mounted on said brace or support, of a lever interposed between said segments and having a dog adapted to engage the teeth on the seg ments and a plate carried by said lever, said plate being provided with means for attaching thereto thereins, substantially as set forth. In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscrib ing witnesses.

THOMAS TOOMEY.

. Witnesses:

GUs. A. WENZEL,

FRANK O. BENoRE. 

